Tonto National Monument

“Remarkable cliff dwellings”

Situated within rugged terrain in the northeastern part of the Sonoran Desert, these well-preserved cliff dwellings were occupied during the 13th, 14th, and early 15th centuries. The well-preserved Lower and Upper cliff dwellings were occupied during the 13th, 14th, and early 15th centuries. The people farmed in the Salt River Valley and supplemented their diet by hunting and gathering native wildlife and plants. They were fine craftsmen, producing some of the most exquisite polychrome pottery and intricately woven textiles to be found in the Southwest. Many of these objects are on display in the Visitor Center museum.

A must stop when driving the Apache Trail. While the ruins themselves were a little lackluster compared to others in the area, the hike to the ruins is what makes this stop a must. You weave up a mountain side for about a mile through what looks like a well manicured cactus garden (but that's just good ol' Mother Nature at work). The variety of cacti and beauty of the specimens is phenomenal. During our drive, we could just get long distance glances of the plant life but this hike not only offered sweeping views, but the opportunity to get right up and look at everything. Loved it.